DNA TEST LIFTS VEIL ON

FREDERICK YODER MYSTERY

       The 1909 History of Berks County by Morton L. Montgomery speaks of Frederick as follows: "From a tender age he was reared by his kinsman, Daniel Yoder, of near Pleasantville. His mother's name was Hill" (emphasis added).

       In her wonderful YNL56 article, Ann Yoder Balderrama spells out her discoveries at the First Reformed Church of Reading of records where she found the surname had been mis-transcribed as "Gotter" instead of "Yotter". These records included the birth of our Frederick on Nov. 30, 1813, baptized Mar. 24, 1814, the son of Daniel "Gotter" and Barbara, sponsor Jacob Hill. Further digging unearthed the marriage of Daniel "Gotter" and Barbara Hill, on July 11, 1813. 

FREDERICK YODER GRAVE,

FAIRVIEW CEM., MOHRSVILLE, PA

       Who was this Daniel? Looking for a Daniel of the correct age in the right area, and without conflicting documented information points at only one fellow. This would be Daniel born Apr. 4, 1791, to Jacob Yoder (OY13) and Catharina Bierman. Up until this time, the Yoder data base has not shown anything about a family for him. Picking him as the Daniel in the First Reformed Church records seems likely and a reasonable hypothesis.

       The Jacob Yoder (OY13)(c1750->1816) was a son of Johannes-Yost (OY1) (1718-1812), son of Yost the immigrant (OY) (1679-1741).  In the Yost Yoder family, we have DNA tests in the line of his son Jacob (OY4), and the Y-Chromosome profile in these tests match to the Swiss Joder profile. In Frederick's line, however, descendants of two different sons have been tested and each comes up with a profile which matched the other, BUT DO NOT match the ancestral profile for Yost.

 

Yost Yoder Profile

Frederick Yoder Profile (from two sons)

 

       If we have correctly placed Daniel, and his line of ascent to Yost, this would mean that a different profile enters the family SOMEWHERE between Yost and Frederick. Are there any clues? Let's look at the dates we have in the church records. Daniel and Barbara Hill are married Jul. 11, 1813.  Frederick is born Nov. 30, 1813.  It appears that Barbara was four or five months pregnant at the time of the marriage. It is certainly possible that she was pregnant with Daniel's child, but it was not unknown for a marriage to be arranged for young girl "in trouble". How do we test this?

 

       There were three other male children born to the couple between 1816 and around 1821.  If this "different" profile was passed down from Daniel, it would be shared by descendants of each of the other three sons. With the help of Ann Balderrama, Barry Yoder, and Christopher Smithson, we were able to track down living male descendants of two of these other sons. One of these fellows agreed to be tested. He is a descendant of the youngest brother Daniel who was killed during the Civil War.

Daniel Yoder  City Point National Cemetery

Hopewell, VA

 

       Daniel Yoder enlisted in Company K, Pennsylvania 187th Infantry Regiment on 04 May 1864 and was mustered out on 03 Jul 1864, which happened to be the day of his recorded death.  The 187th was organized at Philadelphia from March 3 to May 4, 1864. It moved to Washington, D.C., May 18, 1864, where it joined the Army of the Potomac May 26, and reported at Cold Harbor, Va., June 6. They served at Cold Harbor June 6-12. Then they participated in the siege of Petersburg June 16 to September 22, during which time Daniel died on Jul. 3, 1864. During its service, the Regiment lost a total of 136 men (66 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 69 enlisted men by disease).  K Company did not experience heavy causalities, although several deaths did result from injuries received on June 18, 1864 during the Petersburg siege. We can thank Ann Yoder Balderrama for giving us the details of Daniel's death:

 

Reading Adler Obituaries

Jan. 10, 1860 - Jan. 11, 1870

Translation and transcription by Warren Faust, Berks County Genealogical Society, accession number 869

 

Edition of July 19, 1864

Jul 3       Daniel Yoder (of Bernville)  45  Soldier in Co K 187 Reg

              P V   Died at City Point Va      Typhoid Fever

 

       The result of the DNA test by a Daniel Jr. descendant is:

 

Daniel Yoder (b c1821) Line Profile

 

       What does this tell us? Basically it confirms that Daniel Sr. was not the natural father of Frederick. He had, and passed on to Daniel Jr., the same Y-DNA profile as the Joders of Steffisburg Switzerland. This profile also supports the belief that Daniel Sr. was likely the son of Jacob (OY13) and adds a second leg to our Yost Yoder DNA data. When you look at the biographical article in Montgomery's History of Berks County, the words "raised by his kinsman Daniel Yoder" (instead of "by his father") makes it seem certain that the family at that time fully recognized Daniel as a step-father rather than father.

-      -  -     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -

Frederick's DNA Results - Comments

by Ann Yoder Balderrama

       The verdict is in. It confirms what we expected to find. Frederick Yoder was not the biological son of his mother’s husband, Daniel Yoder. However, Barbara’s three younger sons apparently were. We know her son Daniel definitely was a Yoder by biology, thanks to the DNA sample submitted by one of the descendents of Daniel Yoder and his wife Elizabeth Berger.

       In a previous article, I expressed the thought that perhaps Barbara’s husband Daniel may have been the one born “on the wrong side of the sheets,” but now we know beyond a doubt that it was Frederick. Actually, he wasn’t born on the wrong side, just conceived there. Legally, he was the son of Daniel Yoder, just not the biological son. The law stated, and still does, I believe, that if the mother is legally married when the child is born, the child is considered the offspring and financial responsibility of the woman’s husband. This legal notion has appeared in the news from time to time over the last several years, as men discover through DNA that the child they are legally obligated to support is not their biological child, yet the courts still hold them liable for child’s support.

       As is always the case in genealogy, the answer to the question of Frederick’s DNA has raised many more questions, first and foremost being: Who was Frederick’s biological father? We have to assume Barbara was fooling around with someone local, and until the other families from the area institute DNA projects like the Yoder family has done, and we can find a match, we may never know the answer to that question.

-CONTINUED NEXT COLUMN

       Did Daniel know that the child Barbara was carrying was not his? Barbara was halfway through the pregnancy at the time of her marriage. We’ve all heard stories about the “premature” births (especially on soap operas) to cover up the fact that the bride was pregnant, but Frederick, had Barbara tried this ruse, was born too soon after the marriage for this to work for her. Going back once again to the Berks County history by Morton Montgomery, he states of Frederick: “From a tender age he was reared by his kinsman, Daniel Yoder, of near Pleasantville.” Was Barbara somehow related to Daniel? Were they perhaps distant cousins? Did Frederick know that his mother’s husband was not his father? It seems a bit odd that in the Montgomery history he would make mention of Frederick’s mother, but not his father. That type of work tends to play down the maternal side, unless there was an ancestor of note there. I have discovered nothing outstanding in the life of Barbara Hill that would have caused Montgomery to draw attention to her. He did, however, follow the maternal ancestor pattern by mentioning her last name, but not her first.

       I have not yet been able to identify Barbara Hill’s mother. There is some speculation that she was Elizabeth Kerst, daughter of Henry Kerst and his wife Apollonia, but I can’t prove it. Henry left a will and mentioned his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Hill, but there were several men named Jacob Hill who lived in the same area around the same time. None of these men left wills; there are only a few estate records, and none name any children. If we knew where Barbara came from, we could find out how much of a “kinsman” Daniel was to Frederick.

       I am continuing my research on Barbara and her sons.

*********************************************************

HEINI JODER OF 1531

"THE JODER WHO WASN'T"

       The Mennonite Encyclopedia, first published by the Mennonite Publishing House in 1955, includes under its entry for the surname "Yoder":

"Heini Joder was imprisoned at Basel in 1531 for spreading the Anabaptist faith."

Who was this Heini Joder? How did he get from the  Joder ancestral town of Steffisburg to the "big city" of Basel, some 54 miles away? Now, thanks to a Swiss historian of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland, we can present the "rest of the story"(apologies to Paul Harvey). We give our thanks to Dr. Hanspeter Jecker for correcting this at least 66-year-old error (Dr. Jecker- Lizentiat Phil. I (Geschichte), Universität Basel; Master of Arts in Theology, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, USA; Doktor Phil. I (Geschichte), Universität Basel;  Am TSBienenberg seit 1982).  In November 2011, Dr. Jecker wrote:

 

 Dear Editors,

       For many years I have been involved in research of Anabaptist-Mennonite history. In the 1970s until the early 1990s mainly about the area of Basel/Switzerland, since then mostly about Bernese territory. From time to time I receive your Yoder Newsletter from friends through e-mail. I appreciate the strong commitment and diligence in most of the articles you publish!

       Please let me make a very short comment on a little detail of the Yoder story as it shows up in many genealogical publications (and beyond). Regularly I am confronted with statements claiming that an Anabaptist  "Heini Joder" was imprisoned in Basel already  in 1531. I don't know who was first in saying this. But always it was without giving appropriate documentation and proof.

       I have written a research paper about the beginnings of Anabaptism in Basel a long time ago (1978!) - but now, working about Bernese Anabaptism around 1700, Anabaptist Joders/Yoders are obviously showing up very often.

       During my research in Basel archives I never came across an Anabaptist Heini Joder. I suspect that someone just and simply misread the name "Heini Soder" which indeed shows up various times in quite a number of archival documents around 1525/1530!. (Cf. my "Die Basler Täufer: Studien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte" in Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde. 1980, S. 5-131 ). Heini Soder was indeed imprisoned various times - first as a radical reformer (1521/22), then as peasant leader (1526), and finally as an Anabaptist (1527ff.) - but he never is called Heini JODER! If you have the possibility to no longer repeat this most likely false statement - please do so...

HEINI JODER-CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

HEINI JODER-CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

       For my research concerning Bernese Anabaptism  see: www.mennonitica.ch .  As far as I know the first Joders/Yoders who are explicitly suspected of being Anabaptists (and for some of them this turns out to be true...) are (as you probably know):

       a) from and in Steffisburg

       b) around May and June 1690 (esp. around Pentecost)
       c) by name: several children of Jost Joder "der Chorrichter" oo Anna Trachsel, e.g. Peter, Jakob, Anna (wife of Christen Blank), then also another Jost Joder from Ortbühl.

-Sincerely, Hanspeter Jecker, Schweizerischer, Verein für Täufergeschichte

 

Dr. Hanspeter Jecker jecker@bienenberg.ch

 

Translations of relevant references from the article, thanks to Bruce Stahly:

 

The full German article "Die Basler Täufer: Studien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte" ("Basel Anabaptists, Studies from Pre- and Early History") appearing in the "Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde" ("Basel Journal for History and Antiquity") (can be found on-line at http://retro.seals.ch/digbib/view?rid=bzg-002:1980:80::8&id=browse&id2=browse1&id3= )

 

page 31/32

       The origins of Anabaptism shared many things in common with radical political and economic reform movements. This is first evident in the remarkable overlap of the demands of the movements. In addition, there is an amazing continuity among the personnel involved. Along with Lorenz Hochrütiner, there were many later Anabaptists from Basel: such as Fridli Yberger from Canton Schwyz, and Hans Ludi in Waldenburg, both former radical religious reformers. Furthermore, Heini Soder from Liestal, the man who objected to customs duty in Basel, and later a leader in the peasants' revolt of 1525; and Hans Heid from Niederdorf.......

 

page 92

       Before the council could act, the first Anabaptists had already emerged and were taken prisoner in Basel. Among the eight [sic] people who were forced to swear a loyalty oath between July 16-20, 1527 was Heine Soder, the leader of the peasants' revolt in May 1525. Also taken prisoner were Pentelin, Lorenz and Wolfgang Walch, Heini Heynimann, Jakob Tegerfeld and Thurs Schauenburg, all from Liestal. It appears that these men were discovered when they refused to swear an oath of obedience to their mayor. It also came out that they had attended an unauthorized Anabaptist preaching, or had themselves spoken there.

       [Footnote 358: Who exactly spoke is not indicated. It perhaps could have been Heini Soder, who was already known as a gifted orator on behalf of the peasantry.]

 

page 94

       And so the seeds came up – the seeds which had been sown two years before by people like the radical reforming pastors Stefan Stör, Johannes Brüwiler and Heinrich Sincktaler. Heini Soder was closely aligned with them. He, along with them, were among the most influential figures in the peasants' revolt of May 1525. Nothing is known about Soder's evolution from peasant leader/spokesman to Anabaptist. The question must remain open as to whether his career proceeded seamlessly or whether he experienced a “road to Damascus” moment, as when Saul became Paul. I lean toward the view that peasant leader Soder was not at all far distant from Anabaptist Soder, and that he himself is clear evidence that peasant revolution and Anabaptism were not independent phenomena. The main offense of the renegades from Liestal was the refusal to swear an oath. This was also the issue which caused the greatest conflict between the Anabaptists and the authorities. Of issues of baptism and the state- supported church – to name only two—nothing was said. To some it seems rather inconsistent that the stubborn Soder and his fellow prisoners – perhaps on account of better advice – capitulated to the authorities, swore the required oath, and thus achieved their freedom. Although this behavior was  not in strict accordance with the Schleitheim Confession, it does not follow that these people had thus denied their connection to Anabaptism. The example of Heini Soder shows how his conversion to Anabaptism survived and defied many storms: six years later, in July 1533, he was again imprisoned on account of his Anabaptist beliefs.

 

page 102

       ...Anabaptist Margreth Soder from Liestal...  [footnote 393: most likely a relative of Heini Soder.]

==================

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Transcription errors have caused Yoder research problems before. In YNL56, it was the transcription "Goder" which Ann Yoder Balderrama deciphered to unlock the door to the family of Frederick Yoder. But in the early days of the YNL, (YNL3 and 4), we faced another SODER - YODER confusion. In YNL3 we presented a "reader challenge" about a gravestone in Eplers Churchyard, Berne Twp., Berks Co., PA. It supposedly read "Here lies Johan Nicholas Yoder, is born 5th day of February, 1698, died 16 October 1759". By YNL 4, we  had occasion to visit the churchyard. Although the 1759 stone could not be found, there was one for his son John Soder/Souder (1740-1817). This younger John Soder was born in Bern Township, Berks Co., where his father Nicholas, settled, having emigrated from Berne, Switzerland, in 1735. Young John was a farmer and served as a Captain during the American Revolution. We have no idea if this family was related to the imprisoned "Heini Soder", but they may well have been.

FURTHER NOTES:          The Peasant War was an interesting period of history with a direct relationship to the Protestant Reformation and the revolt against feudalism. Although our Steffisburg Joders may not have been directly involved, their lives were certainly influenced by the conflict and the growth of Anabaptism which resulted. The following is taken from Wikipedia:

       The Peasants' War…. was a popular revolt that took place in Europe during 1524–1525. It consisted…. of a series of both economic and religious revolts in which peasants, townsfolk and nobles all participated.

       At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict, which occurred mostly in the southern, western and central areas of what is now modern Germany plus areas in neighboring Alsace and modern Switzerland and Austria, involved an estimated 300,000 peasant rebels: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000. It was Europe's largest and most widespread popular uprising prior to the French Revolution of 1789.

       ….After the uprising in Germany was suppressed, it flared briefly in several of the Swiss Cantons.

*********************************************************  

111 MARKER YODER PROFILE

IS ESTABLISHED

       We have completed five 111 marker Y-DNA profiles for various Yoder lines. These include representatives of the Oley Yoder, Conrad Yoder, Melchior Yoder, Hans of Great Swamp, and our Steffisburg Joder families. The results are presented in a tabular format, with the Oley Yoder results as the model, and then reporting any variation from that model in the tests of other lines.

-111 MARKER PROFILE- CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

111 MARKER PROFILE- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

If a variation is not shown, then the value appearing in the Oley line is common to the other line. (Hans of Great Swamp = YB). For example, at Marker "DYS393" the test values of "14" has no variation in any of the tests, so ALL branches tested as "14". At marker "DYS19" the Amish lines show a value of "16", but ALL other branches share the "15" of the Oley line. The profile of our Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) among the various Yoder lines can be determined by taking the Oley value (except for those instances where the Steffisburg Joder value is the difference). Where the Steffisburg Joder value is the difference (four markers) one of the two values is likely that of the MRCA- we cannot be sure which). So in summary, we can see a 107 marker Y-DNA profile for our Most Recent Common Ancestor (Kaspar Joder who was born c1548,  see YNL55).

 

A NOTE ON THE STEFFISBURG ZIMMERMAN FAMILY- One 111 marker profile has been added into the Yoder group. A descendant of the Zimmerman family of Steffisburg, whose immigrant translated his name to "Carpenter" and moved from Pennsylvania in the 1700s to North Carolina, has asked to be included in the Yoder Project computations. He has a 111 marker test and matches at 104 of our 111 markers. This is not a degree of match which Family Tree DNA (our test agent) would mechanically compute as a "match", but the common town of origin certainly begs a question of heritage. As we may have mentioned before, surnames were not in common use until shortly after the first millennium, so it is not impossible that someplace way back beyond the establishment of  surnames in Steffisburg, his line and ours had a common male ancestor.

A

B

Marker

Oley Yoders

Variation

DYS393

14

DYS390

23

DYS19

15

Amish-16

DYS391

10

DYS385

15-16

DYS426

11

DYS388

13

DYS439

11

DYS389i

12

Zimmerman-13

DYS392

12

DYS389ii

30

DYS458

15

DYS459

8-10

DYS455

11

DYS454

11

DYS447

24

DYS437

14

DYS448

20

DYS449

27

DYS464

11-14-14-15

DYS460

11

Y-GATA-H4

9

YCAII

18-21

DYS456

14

DYS607

14

DYS576

17

DYS570

20

CDY

33-38

Zimmerman -33-39

DYS442

12

DYS438

10

DYS531

11

DYS578

8

DYF395S1

15-16

DYS590

8

DYS537

11

DYS641

10

DYS472

8

DYF406S1

10

DYS511

9

DYS425

12

DYS413

21-22

DYS557

15

Conrad-16

DYS594

11

DYS436

12

DYS490

12

DYS534

13

DYS450

9

DYS444

12

DYS481

27

YB-28, Amish-26

DYS520

20

DYS446

11

DYS617

13

Steffisburg-14

DYS568

12

DYS487

12

DYS572

11

DYS640

12

DYS492

12

DYS565

11

DYS710

30

Zimmerman-29

DYS485

13

DYS632

8

DYS495

15

DYS540

11

DYS714

23

Steffisburg-24

DYS716

27

DYS717

16

DYS505

12

YB-13

DYS556

11

DYS549

12

DYS589

11

DYS522

12

Zimmerman-13

DYS494

9

DYS533

11

DYS636

11

DYS575

10

DYS638

11

DYS462

12

DYS452

32

DYS445

10

Y-GATA-A10

12

DYS463

22

DYS441

13

Y-GGAAT-1B07

11

DYS525

10

DYS712

20

DYS593

15

DYS650

23

Amish,Zimmerman-22, Steffisburg-24

DYS532

9

DYS715

23

DYS504

14

DYS513

12

DYS561

14

Zimmerman, Steffisburg -15

DYS552

26

Zimmerman-27

DYS726

12

DYS635

22

DYS587

18

DYS643

12

DYS497

15

DYS510

17

DYS434

9

DYS461

12

DYS435

11

 

**********************************************************

********************************************************

The Yoder Newsletter- Founded 1983 by

Ben F Yoder (1913-1992), Chris Yoder & Rachel Kreider

Chris Yoder, Editor, Saugatuck, MI; John W. Yoder, Circulation Manager, Middlebury, IN; Rachel Kreider, Senior Contributing Editor, Goshen, IN; Esther E. Yoder, Mail Manager, Goshen, IN; Donald Kauffman, YNL  Webmaster, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Other Contributors: Richard H. Yoder, Bechtelsville, PA; Dr. Don Yoder, Devon, PA; Neal D. Wilfong, Cleveland, NC.; and welcoming Ann Balderrama, Reading, PA .

********************************************************

Over the past 29 years, subscriptions have allowed us to support advertising of national reunions, to provide funding for many of the DNA tests, and to pay for new research into Swiss records. All of our staff members are volunteers.

*********************************************************

SEND YNL CORRESPONDENCE:

       - FOR CIRCULATION ISSUES ONLY such as new or renewed subscriptions, changes of address, orders for back issues to: Yoder Newsletter, P.O. Box 594, Goshen, IN 46527-0594. 

    - ALL OTHER CORRESPONDENCE- dealing with ancestral queries or contributions for future YNLs or archives (such as reunion notices, Letters to the Editor, copies of Bible records or other historical information) to: Chris Yoder, 551 S. Maple St., Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email at cyoder@tds.net .

   - YNL PRICE INFORMATION 

       -Annual YNL subscription (published Apr. and Oct.) for $5.

       -BACK ISSUES of the YNL are $2 per issue.  (or you can download them free from the Yoder Newsletter web page: www.yodernewsletter.org ).

Visit: http://www.yodernewsletter.org/subscrib.html for mail-in subscription form.

********************************************************

YODER DATA ON DISK- Includes back issues of YNL text, census and county records, family group data and pictures and scanned images. The price for our “Yoder Data on Disk” is $10 (postage included). Send to YNL address in Goshen. (Most of this info is also available free at the YNL Homepage and changes VERY slowly.)

*********************************************************

YODER UNION SUITS

       Klosed Krotch Union Suits from Steiner & Yoder, Orrville, OH, "Never Binds, Cuts or Chafes".

**********************************************************

YODER DATA FROM MUSSBACH

       After the wonderful revelations by Dr. Don Yoder last month, we were hoping that there would be more details to report from the  archives of Mussbach. Alas, we all will have to be patient!

**********************************************************

**********************************************************

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

      I am Lorena Shell Eaker, a native of Bollinger County, MO and am a descendent of Abraham and Catharina Yoder Moyer.. Their son John died in 1800 in Lincoln Co., NC. In spring of 1806 his widow Esther Grider Moyer and the children signed a quit claim deed in Lincoln Co. and her estate was probated in January 1807 in Cape Girardeau Co., MO Territory.

       I have attended the Conrad Yoder reunion in NC many times and their invitation due to my books and work on NC Germanic element and always told them that I was not of Yoder descent but related in one way or another to most of them. It was not until November when Ray and Agnes Yount of Maryland sent me the Yoder Newsletter that I finally learned who Abraham Moyer had married by reading Don's article. I met Don at the Whitener reunion in NC back in the mid 90's. I may also have met you a number of years ago if you attended the Yoder reunion in NC.  I am the author of "German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in NC 1750-1800" that Don mentioned in his article. He has a copy of that book. It's out of print but available on CD.

       I am a veteran of 64 years of genealogical research, a hobby I shared with my late husband for most of our 48 years together. He passed away in 1990 and I have continued on since then.. I'm now nearing my 85th birthday and my health is failing. I have recently turned over my remaining inventory of two of my books and CDs of the two that's out of print to the Lincoln Co., NC Historical Association and a goodly portion of my collection of files, both published and unpublished that I have scanned onto CDs.  

      Hope this helps you in locating more of Jost Joder's descendants as there are thousands of them in my books under one surname or another. To learn more about my books log on to Lincoln Co., NC Historical association and click on their Blog.-- Lorena S. Eaker, P. O. Box 2125, Church Hill, TN 37642

PS: our Eaker  (EGGER) family was from Frutigen and Adleboden Switzerland, a stones throw from Steffisburg. My daughter had the good fortune to have visited there in September, just before I learned of our Yoder connection.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(Editor's Note: Many of you remember Dorothy Yoder Coffman, who wrote our first Melchior Yoder article in YNL3 and went on to transcribe Yoder census data (now seen on our web pages). Here's an interesting note from her daughter about the Melchior-Conrad connections!  

       I got home this weekend, after a week of traveling for work, to the copy of the Yoder Newsletter, announcing the news about the find and connections of our relative, Melchior Yoder with Conrad Yoder  of North Carolina. You are totally correct - my  mother would be thrilled!!

        But here is where things get interesting.  My youngest son, is currently dating a gal from HICKORY, NC!! In fact, it turns out that her mother is connected to the Yoders!!! What a surprise for all of us.  Again - thanks for your work. -  Emily Coffman Richardson

(Added note: It seems the youngsters are 8th cousins, once removed)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Elizabeth Yothers Straub, of San Leandro, California, celebrated her 100th birthday Feb. , 2012,  with family and friends. She was the fifth of eight children and of Alfred and Johanna Yothers, and granddaughter of Levi and Arthusa Wood Yothers (Daniel Yothers line - see YNL37). Elizabeth was born in Berkeley in the house her father built, and spent her younger years in Calaveras County and later in Oakland. She married Robert Straub in Oakland.

- from James Yothers

 

 

 

YODER OREGON REUNION

       About 75 descendants of the Yoder, Oregon branch of the Clan met on Aug. 7 at Smyrna United Church of Christ.  The church is near the place where Asa J. Yoder, his sister Catherine Yoder Lantz, and their nephews, Jonathan S., John P. and Levi D. settled beginning in 1873.  They had migrated from McLean County, Illinois, and Dade County, Missouri, and were instrumental in founding the church in 1891 and building the Evergreen School, Yoder Lumber Mill and Yoder Store.  The last two are still owned and operated by Yoder great grandsons of Jonathan.  Yoder is in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, between Portland and Salem.

       It was the 75th continuous annual reunion and had representatives of most of the original families coming from as far away as Fresno, California and Vancouver, B.C.  Ted Carlin, great grandson of John P and Rebecca Lantz Yoder was elected President of the group and Barbara Daniels, great granddaughter of Jonathan Yoder, was retained as Secretary.  Oldest in attendance were Roberta Eyman Daniels, 97, and her sister Lucia Eyman Schuebel, 96, granddaughters of Jonathan S. and Barbara Fry Yoder.

       A highlight of the event was the presentation of the John P. and Rebecca Yoder family Bible dating to their marriage in Danvers, McLean County, Illinois in 1874.  It had been in the possession of Barbara Potts Carlin, 1912-2011, who had instructed that it be given to Smyrna Church.  It contained many pages of valuable family records.  Past President, Bruce Christenson, another great grandson of John P, donated a beautiful Rosewood stand he had crafted.  

       On sale were Yoder mugs using an image of the “YODER” sign made by George Christenson and nailed to a tree when the reunion was in Silverton Park for a number of years.

       The Yoder family is considering working with the church to begin a small archive for records, memorabilia, pictures and other artifacts that need a permanent home.  The 2012 reunion will be at the church on the first Sunday in August.

-  Reported by Joel Daniels

*******************************************

Plan To Attend the national yoder reunion - oct. 2012!!
***************************Queries************************

The YNL will publish Yoder related inquiries or exchanges at no charge.  Send Queries to: Chris Yoder, 551 S. Maple St., Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email at cyoder@tds.net .

**********************************************************

Who was Elijah Yoder, born c1813 in PA, found in Sacramento, California from 1868 to 1874? In the 1860 census, he is shown as "Elisha Yoder" age 48 in the gold mining town of Downieville, Sierra Co., CA, with the occupation of "carpenter".  Reply to Chris Yoder, address above.

**********************************************************

 “Find-A-Grave” - Document Your Own Yoder Line on the Internet

       The “Find-A-Grave” web site allows you:  to post the name and dates of your ancestor in the cemetery where he or she rests; to add his or her photo; to add a photo of the gravestone; and to post a biographical summary or obituary.

        Visit the site at:  www.findagrave.com . As of Jan. 29, 2012, the counts for interments were: 10,374  (an increase of +1,520 from Aug 2011) –Yoder; 267 (+26) – Yother; 114 (+17) – Yothers; 127  (+4) – Yotter; 40  (+3)  – Yoter; 127  (+29) – Yoders;, 13  (+0) – Ioder; 67 (+3) – Joder;  24 (+0) - Jotter family members; Joders - 1 (+0). You can either add your ancestor to a cemetery, or post data on an existing record. For assistance write: Chris Yoder at: cyoder@tds.net .

A sample of posted gravestones is shown below.

 

 

 YRB661- Benjamin Yoder

( 3/13/1837- 12/26/1887)

m 8/12/1858 Sarah  DeWalt, Weasaw Baptist Church Cemetery

Denver, Miami County, IN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YB1321- Abraham Yoder (Dec.6,1801- Feb.6,1865)
m. Anna Bechtel
Saucon Mennonite Meeting House Cemetery

Saucon Valley

Lehigh County, PA

 

**********************************************************

ST. YODER'S DAY IN KANSAS- "We thought we might break our "record" and have all four James Yoders from the Newton area at our annual St. Yoder's Day potluck, but we only matched our record of three. For Kansas, four would have been amazing though probably pretty routine for Lancaster County. Sixteen Yoders and Yoder descendants gathered in response to an invitation by Doris and James L Yoder."- from Rachel

**********************************************************

61st Reunion of the NC Yoder Family

       The weekend of October 22-23, 2011, marked the 61st annual reunion of the NC Yoder Family, who trace their heritage to Swiss pioneer Conrad Yoder (1725-1790) emigrant to Carolina via PA in the mid-18th century. On Saturday about 35 members of the family joined several hundred other visitors at Hart Square. The creation of Dr. Robert Hart, the 1840’s Carolina Village is a community of more than 95 log structures salvaged by the Hickory, NC, physician and relocated to his private farm in western Catawba County, NC.

       Later that evening some 25 Yoders attended a vespers service in the restored Grace Union Church southwest of Newton, NC. Officiated by the Rev. Nathan H. Yoder, Abend Gottesdienst, was offered predominantly in the German language.

       The family reunion on Sunday was held in the Grace Lutheran Parish Building. Conducted by President Rachael Hahn Kennedy, the group was introduced to officers and staff that included Nathan Yoder, vice-president; Neal D. Wilfong, secretary; Benelia Yoder Reese, treasurer; and Dr. J. Larry Yoder, chaplain. Nathan gave the invocation in German followed by the singing of the Doxology. A delicious covered dish meal was enjoyed by the 73 attendees.

       President Kennedy announced that the NC clan has agreed to host the 2012 National Yoder Reunion. She asked family members to brainstorm ideas and suggestions, adding that the Yoder family came to America in the 1700’s in search of religious and political freedom and to begin a new life.  Plans for the celebration include a German worship service in the 1857 Union Church, an excursion to Hart Square, and “grave gardens” and “grave shadowing,” the latter an idea to illuminate weathered tombstones after dark to more easily decipher eroded writing.

       Dr. Larry Yoder read selections of scripture from Leviticus 19 and Matthew 22. A bilingual prayer in German with English translation was delivered by Yoder’s eldest son, the Rev. Nathan Yoder. A suggestion was entertained that polo shirts with the family crest be ordered as was done for previous national reunions. The idea was approved several years ago.

       First time guests included Steve Nail, of Greenville, MS, who attended the reunion with his wife, Anita; and Larissa Isenhower, a native of Guatemala.

       W.A. “Bill” Yoder brought greetings from Elaine Yoder Zakarison, a daughter of Dr. Fred Roy Yoder, who penned "History of the Yoder Family in North Carolina." The Yoder Book Fund account stands at $2349.78. Ted M. Yoder expressed greetings from Dr. Don Yoder, 90, of Devon, PA, who, for more than 60 years has researched Yoder roots and cousins. Ted gave a brief overview of colonial Yoder immigrants, relating recently discovered evidence that has established the genealogy of Conrad Yoder. Dr. Don Yoder revealed a short time ago that Conrad was a nephew of Swiss immigrant brothers, Hans and Jost Joder (Yoder,) who settled in Oley, PA, in the early 18th century. Dr. Don’s discovery is significant for historians and places Conrad finally in kinship to most other major Yoder émigré lines.

       The house site of David Yoder (1799-1896), a grandson of Conrad, has been cleaned up by the present landowner. A stone chimney marks the spot where the log home formerly stood.

       Anita Nail was named chair of a committee to pursue having professional photographs made of the heirloom Conrad Yoder Bible and other family memorabilia now housed in the Museum of History in Newton. Nail shared research from the NC Department of Archives and History in Raleigh that established her descent from Ephraim A. Yoder, son of Daniel Yoder and wife, Eleanor Davis.  Daniel, who emigrated west ca. 1815, was a son of Conrad Yoder by his third marriage to Catharine Huffman.

       Ted Yoder expressed heartfelt appreciation to the family for their thoughts and prayers during his recent illness. The former president received a liver transplant last April 24. Respectfully submitted,-Neal D. Wilfong, secretary,The NC Yoder Family

Y'ALL COME! NATIONAL YODER REUNION 25-28 OCT 2012, Hickory, NC

 

       Ted Yoder, Neal Wilfong, Bill (Willie) Yoder, Rachel Hahn Kennedy and the rest of the NC Yoders are ready to welcome you!

      

       The Yoders of North Carolina will be hosting a fun-filled NATIONAL YODER REUNION (co-sponsored by the Yoder Newsletter) this October in Hickory NC.

       This 3-day event will be the third to be hosted by our North Carolina cousins who are stoked to the gills with plenty of SOUTHERN HOSPITALLY! (See YNL26 and 36 for past events). Plans includes Yoder Family guest speakers, genealogists, and worship leaders--extraordinary historic sites that depict and preserve our early American heritage, Grace and Zion Lutheran Churches and the recently-renovated 1797 Grace Union Church where the Rev. Drs. Yoder will lead us in a vintage German vespers), a sunset memorial service at the Conrad Yoder hilltop gravesite, genealogical breakout sessions, Southern American music and delicious home cooked cuisine provided by their awesome YNC Team, and lots more! Come visit us in October!!

       Planned speakers include:

-Dr. Don Yoder, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and Folklore and Folklife at the University of Penn., who recently discovered the origins of Conrad and Melchior Yoder (see YNL 58).

-Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., renowned American journalist, author, and Pulitzer Prize winner, and direct descendant of Conrad Yoder.

- Chris Yoder, Editor and co-founder of The Yoder Newsletter

- Jack Augustus (and Phyllis) Yoder, former Air Force pilot and flight instructor, Jack is the sole surviving 6th generation descendant of Conrad Yoder

- Yoder of North Carolina Chaplain Rev. Dr. J. Larry Yoder, and Yoder of NC Vice President Rev. Dr. Nathan H. Yoder

       Events will begin Thursday afternoon, Oct. 25, with Registration and Welcoming for out-of-town guests and an evening meal/reception with blue-grass music and lots of fun!

Friday, Oct. 26- Historical sessions and speakers at the Catawba County Museum of History, Newton, NC

Saturday, Oct. 27- Day trip to the nationally renowned 1840s Carolinas folk Festival at Hart Square

Sunday, Oct. 28- Family worship services at either Grace or Zion Lutheran, and the closing session, with home cooked meal and  speakers at Zion Lutheran Church.

       A separate registration mailing will be sent out later to ALL YNL subscribers, but SAVE THESE DATES NOW!

**********************************************************

ABE YODER REUNION 2012

       The Abe Yoder Family reunion this summer, 4th weekend of
June! The dates are June 22 to 24, 2012 at Roxbury Holiness Camp, Roxbury, PA! We'll kick things off with games and fellowship on Friday night and  continue through Sunday noon, ending with a church service and final meal together. It's always a great time with this fantastic family!

       If anyone would like to help with any part of the reunion, please let me know! You can call or text: 717-692-0390 or email me:
rachel.shetterly@comcast.net. Jess & Lois Kauffman as well as Eli & Ruth Riehl are on the slate to help get the details together, but we'll also need more people to help make this event flow smoothly.

**********************************************************

FLORIDA REUNION_ The children and grandchildren of Naomi Yoder Johnson and Bertha Yoder Reed will have a reunion in Palm Bay, Florida on Mar 31, 2012.  There are only a handful of us that attend, but we still enjoy going over our Yoder family genealogy and some are always finding old photos to share. - From Kay Strause

**********************************************************

YODER PASSINGS:

- W. E. Yoder, Kutztown, 93, of Kutztown, PA died Jan. 18, 2012.
Born in Kutztown, he was the son of the late Harry B. (OY434562) and Florence O. (Esser) Yoder. William was the founder of W.E. Yoder, Inc., and the former Vice President of Yoder Concrete.

- Henry H. Yoder, 91, of Souderton, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, son of Paul F. and Katie R. (Hunsicker) Yoder.

- Monroe (Mony) A. Yoder, 85, formerly of Lemoyne, died Jan. 23. He was a World World II veteran and a member of the American Legion. He was born Sept. 30, 1926, a son of the late Charles and Thelma Yoder.

- Wilbur W. Yoder, age 92 of Sarasota, Florida died Friday Dec. 23, 2011.  He was born Mar. 16, 1919 in Kalona, Iowa the son of Eli S.  (YR23374f1)  and Esther (Brenneman) Yoder.

-  Thomas S. Yoder, 91, of Elverson, PA died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. Born in Elverson, he was the son of the late John H. (YR2673116)  and Anna (Stoltzfus) Yoder.

- Harold Lamar Yoder, Jr., 59, of Salisbury, NC passed away Feb. 15, 2012. He was born May 21, 1952 in Shamokin, PA to the late Jean Troy Yoder and Harold L. Yoder.

- Jesse William Yother, Coalgate, OK, died Feb. 6, 2012. He was born Dec. 10, 1940  to Oliver Wilburn & Pauline (James) Yother.

- Paul L. Yoder Sr., 71, Belleville, PA died March 5, 2012. He was the son of John W. Yoder Sr. (YR25143a5) and Mary (Henry).

**********************************************************

New Yoder Book

       YNL Webmaster Don Kauffman writes "Our family has now been in Alberta for 100 years. These books are a centennial project of mine. They are not a listing of every descendant, but are "story"; tracing the family from the earliest known times in Europe, into the USA (Iowa) and finally in Alberta for the past 100 years. They include stories of the Levi D Yoder (YR233746) and Joseph E Kauffman famiiies coming from Iowa to Alberta in 1912. He moved from Parnell, Iowa, to Alberta Canada in 1912 with his family, which included my grandparents, Joseph E and Katie (Yoder) Kauffman. I have cobbled my 30 plus years of family history collection into two books: "Yoder Yarns" and "Kauffman  Chronicles". We have lived here in Alberta for 100 years, which is a long time in Alberta terms. These books are my attempt to tell the stories of these families "for my children and nieces and nephews".

       These two books are now in the Masthof Press catalog:

Catalog # 3795 - "Yoder Yarns" by Donald D Kauffman

Catalog # 3796 - "Kauffman Chronicles" by Donald D Kauffman

See:  http://www.masthof.com/

********************************************************